The Story of Parikshit

We are now jumping to the end of the Mahabharata story for a reason. We shall learn the context in which the two epics, Srimad Bhagavatham and Mahabharatam, were first narrated. This has some relevance to a query by Jayanthan on the time period of the great epics.
The war had ended. Only one prince, born to the son of Arjuna, survived; that too by a miracle. He had also inherited the throne of the Kurus . He was a gifted warrior like his father and grand father, especially, in archery.

Once he went hunting in a nearby forest. His unfailing arrow hit a deer, but, the animal disappeared out of his sight. He went after it, being sure that his arrow would have found the mark. Deep inside the forest, he saw a sage in deep meditation. The name of the sage was Sameeka. Parikshit was in an excited state and was thinking only of his quarry. He asked the sage whether he found the animal.

Sameeka was unmindful of what was happening around him. He said nothing in reply to the king’s query. That made Parikshit very angry. He found a dead snake nearby, picked it up with his bow and threw it on the sage so that it fell as a garland around his neck. With that the king returned to the palace. Sameeka did not even notice that.

The sage had a son by name Sringi who had achieved great powers from years of meditation. He was , at the same time, very short tempered. Some one reported the insult done to his father to Sringi and started making fun of him. Why should he be so boastful of his achievements when his father wore a dead snake around his neck ? That made Sringi lose his temper altogether. He came to know that it was King Parikshit who humiliated his father. So, he put a curse on the king that he would die of bite by the great snake, Takshaka, within seven days !

He, then, went to his father and reported the matter to him. Sage Sameeka was extremely sorry for the king and for his son who metered out such a harsh punishment for what was a small offence. He asked his son at least to inform the king of the danger so that the king could take whatever precaution possible to prevent the calamity.

Sringi, accordingly, went to king Parikshit and told him what happened. The king was extremely sorry for his mistake and was worried about the impending danger. He consulted his ministers on what best could be done. They decided to make a special place for the king to live in for the next seven days. The house would stand on one single pillar. There would be strict watch all around and none would be allowed in without being thoroughly checked. It was, as though, even the air that entered the palace was scrutinized in advance !

It is said that sage Suka, the son of Vedavyasa, narrated the story of Srimad Bhagavatham, as was told to him by his father, to king Parikshit during those seven days.

Now, the curse was like an order for Takshaka from the sage. He had to accomplish the task at any cost. Else, he feared that the angry sage would curse him. So he started on his errand in the company of some of his trusted serpent friends of divine power. On his way he came across a Brahmin by name Kasyapa travelling in the same direction. When asked, the Brahmin said that he was going to King Parikshit . His mission was to save the king from the snake bite with his power of Mantra.

Takshaka was intrigued. Did the Brahmins have so much power that he could nullify the effect of his poison, one of the most deadly on earth or heaven ? He wanted to test the Brahmin.
Accordingly, the great serpent struck a huge tree that was on the way with his fangs. The tree which had thick branches and rich foliage immediately dried up and started going up in flames with the effect of his poison. Then, Takshaka asked Kasyapa to try his luck .

Kasyapa was nonplussed. He took some water, chanted Mantras and sprinkled the water on what was a tree a few seconds back. To the surprise and great disappointment of Takshaka the tree started sprouting and grew to its old splendour in no time . Takshaka now knew that his power was nothing compared to that of the Brahmin. His only hope was to turn the Brahmin away from his errand. So, he offered the Brahimn enough gifts more than he hoped to get from the king . He also managed to convince Kasyapa that the fate of the king was already sealed the moment the great Sringi pronounced the curse. Thus, Takshaka managed to send the Brahmin back. Then, the great serpent continued on his mission.

Let us now shift the focus to the king . He already spent six days in his secure palace. It was almost dusk on the seventh day. The king heaved a sigh of relief and felt relaxed. It was at that time some sages brought in a tray of fruits. Parikshit picked up one and found that there was a small black worm peeping its head out of it. So, the king announced jokingly : “The time stipulated by the sage is over. It looks that I am safe. So, let the sage have his consolation and let this worm bite me, instead.”

So saying the king placed the fruit with the protruding worm near his neck. The very next moment the worm grew in size and took the shape of Takshaka. He struck at the king ferociously. The king turned blue by the venom of the snake and fell down dead instantaneously.That was how the lone survivor of the Mahabharata war met with his untimely death. We shall learn next the revenge of his son, Janamejaya, on serpents.

When Duryodhana was born several bad omens were noticed around the palace. Wise men, including Vidura said that the boy must be discarded quoting the following verse :

"Tyaje-dekam kulasyaarthe graamasyaarthe kulam tyajed
Graamam janapadasyaarthe aatmarthe prithiveem tyajed"

English

May one person be sacrificed for the sake of the family, a family for the sake of a village and a village to save an entire nation. Yet, the entire earth may be sacrificed to save oneself.

Note

Here it is the interest of the kingdom of Kurus was at stake. Hence, Duryodhana, whose birth caused ill portents must be sacrificed . The last clause is applicable from the point of view of an individual in danger.

The Strange Chain called ‘Aashaa’ (desire or greed)

There is a sloka in Sanskrit which reads thus :

Aashaa Naama Manushyaanaam (People have by name Aashaa)
Kaachidaascarya Srunkhalaa (a strange chain )
Tayaa Bandhaah Pradhaavanthi (Those tied up with it run around,)
Mukthaah Thishthanthi Kutrachid. (those released, stand still at one place)

Meaning

Normally, a chain is used to tie someone or something down to a place. But, there is a strange chain called desire. The moment people are tied to it (caught in its web), they starts running here and there in an attempt to fulfil the desire.

It is not easy to get released from such a chain. But, once a person is freed from its bond, he does not run around any more. He, or rather his mind, remains steady and calm and, hence, settles down at one place.

It looks that most people in modern world are tied up with this strange chain. That is why they all run hither and thither, first to earn money and then to spend it on goods they do not need.

Ancient Indian Wisdom on Creation

Today’s “Hindu” newspaper (19/12/2006) reports that two scientists from the University of Washington have found a primitive microbe in the Pacific ocean that adds further support to the notion that life on earth began within the deep, dark ocean …..

The Vedas talk extensively on creation, unfortunately in a symbolic and figurative language. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to go through the glimpses, the ancient sages had on creation and many other things .

Below are given two quotations, first from the Mahabharatha and the other from the works of the great poet Kalidasa on the above idea .
I am not implying that ancient Indians knew all that modern science has discovered. But, it seems that they had knowledge on many things !

Mahabharatham, the first Parva, Sloka 29

Nishprabhesmin niraloke
Sarvathah tamasaavruthe
Brihadandamabhoodekam
Prajaanaam beejamavyayam

English

(Something like ) a big egg took shape in this world, which was immersed fully in darkness, that turned out to be the unfailing seed for the (entire) human race

Kalidasa, in Kumarasambhavam

Yadamoghamapaamantah
Uktham beeja maja, tvayaa
Adascharaacharam sarvam
Prabhaavasthasya geeyathe

English

My Lord (one without birth or death), you sowed an unfailing seed deep inside water. It is said (sung) that the entire world resulted from it.